Avoid Locksmith Scams

Signs of a Locksmith Scam

Just last month, a customer in Ixelles called us after paying over 800 euros for a basic door opening that should have cost a fraction of that. The previous "locksmith" had drilled out a perfectly good cylinder, replaced it with an unbranded one, and demanded cash on the spot. We hear stories like this far too often. A slammed door in the middle of the night, a broken key stuck in the lock, lost keys on the way home from work: these stressful situations push people to call the first number they find online. Scammers know this and exploit that vulnerability. Here are the warning signs you need to recognise to protect yourself.

Price quoted too low on the phone

One of the most common tactics in Brussels is quoting a suspiciously low amount over the phone to lure customers in. A dishonest locksmith tells you exactly what you want to hear, and once they arrive at your door, the bill skyrockets. That initial figure did not include travel, labour, or materials. Suddenly, you are being charged extra for a "special part", "night-time intervention", or "complex lock mechanism".

A serious locksmith operating in the Brussels Region will always give you a realistic estimate over the phone and clearly explain what it covers. They will not commit to a final amount without seeing the situation first, but their estimate will remain consistent with the final invoice. If the figure you are quoted sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

No VAT number

In Belgium, every locksmith business must hold a valid VAT number (enterprise number in the format BE 0xxx.xxx.xxx). This is a legal requirement, with no exceptions. A locksmith who cannot provide their VAT number before the intervention is either an undeclared worker or a fictitious company.

You can verify the validity of any Belgian VAT number on the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) website. This check takes less than a minute and tells you whether the company is properly registered, its official address, and its date of incorporation. Be wary of businesses that were created very recently yet already display hundreds of positive reviews: this is often a sign of fake reviews purchased online.

Abusive surcharge on site

Your door is open and the locksmith is already there. He examines the lock, shakes his head and tells you that "everything needs replacing". From our experience inspecting locks after these situations, the cylinder that was declared "beyond repair" was usually working perfectly fine — a simple non-destructive opening would have done the job. But under pressure, people agree. The invoice ends up being two, three, sometimes five times higher than what was originally quoted.

An honest professional will explain before starting any work what they are going to do, why, and how much it will cost. If a cylinder replacement is genuinely needed, they will offer recognised brands such as Fichet, Bricard, Vachette, Mul-T-Lock, or Picard rather than an unbranded part of untraceable origin.

No official invoice

One red flag that comes up again and again in the stories customers share with us: after the intervention, the dishonest locksmith asks you to pay in cash without issuing an invoice. Or they will hand you a scrap of paper with no VAT number, no description of the work performed, and no legal mentions. This practice is illegal in Belgium and leaves you with no recourse if something goes wrong later.

Belgian law requires that an invoice includes at minimum the service provider's VAT number, a detailed description of the work carried out, the applicable VAT rate, and the total amount. Without a proper invoice, you cannot claim the warranty on any installed hardware, deduct the costs, or file an effective complaint. Always insist on a compliant invoice before making any payment.

How to Verify a Locksmith Before Calling

The best protection against scams is checking in advance. Even in an emergency, take a few minutes to carry out these straightforward checks:

• Verify the VAT number on the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) website. Make sure that "locksmithing" or "joinery and locksmith work" appears among the company's NACE codes.
• Read online reviews on Google Maps. Favour locksmiths with a history of reviews spread over time and detailed comments. Be suspicious of profiles that only have five-star reviews all posted within the same month.
• Request a written quote, even by SMS or WhatsApp, before the locksmith sets out. A quote, even a brief one, has legal value in Belgium and protects you against abusive surcharges.
• Check the physical address of the business. A reliable locksmith in Brussels has a workshop or identifiable premises. Be cautious of phone numbers that redirect to call centres based abroad.
• Ask about the brands they install. A locksmith who works with well-known brands such as Fichet, Mul-T-Lock, Wilka, Nuki, or Picard is generally a professional who knows the trade and can order certified parts.

If you are dealing with a locked or slammed door in Brussels, it is tempting to call the first search result that appears. Take the time to compare at least two quotes. If a locksmith refuses to give you an estimate over the phone or is evasive about their VAT number, move on to the next one.

Our team works with the leading trusted locksmith brands in Belgium: Fichet, Bricard, Vachette, Mul-T-Lock, Picard, Wilka, and Nuki. Every intervention results in a detailed invoice with a VAT number, and our customers receive a clear quote before any work begins.

Your Rights as a Consumer in Belgium

Belgian law protects consumers against unfair commercial practices. Here is what you need to know when hiring a locksmith in Brussels or anywhere else in Belgium:

• Right to prior information: the Code of Economic Law (Book VI) requires service providers to inform the consumer about the main characteristics of the service, the total amount (including taxes), and the identity of the professional before any contract is concluded.
• Ban on misleading commercial practices: quoting one amount over the phone and then invoicing a significantly higher sum without justification constitutes a misleading commercial practice, punishable under Belgian law.
• Invoicing obligation: for any service provided between a professional and a private individual, an invoice must be issued upon request. Above a certain threshold, the invoice is mandatory in all cases.
• Legal warranty: parts installed by the locksmith (cylinder, lock, handle) benefit from the two-year legal warranty. If your new Bricard or Vachette cylinder develops a defect within two years, the locksmith is required to replace or repair it free of charge.

In the Brussels-Capital Region, you can also contact the Consumer Mediation Service in case of a dispute. This free service attempts to find an amicable solution between you and the service provider before escalating to legal proceedings.

What to Do If You've Been Scammed

If you realise after the fact that you have been the victim of a dishonest locksmith in Brussels, several remedies are available to you. Do not stay silent: every complaint helps protect other consumers.

• Gather your evidence: keep the invoice (even an informal one), any SMS or WhatsApp messages exchanged, photos of the intervention, and your card payment receipt. If you paid in cash, write down the exact amount, date, and time.
• File a complaint with FPS Economy: the Federal Public Service Economy is the competent authority for complaints about unfair commercial practices in Belgium. You can submit your complaint online via the FPS Economy contact point (pointdecontact.belgique.be / meldpunt.belgie.be). Provide all the evidence you have.
• Report to the police: if the facts amount to fraud (fake VAT number, identity theft, threats), file an official report at your local police station. In Brussels, you can visit one of the police stations in the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles zone or in your own municipality.
• Contact a consumer organisation: Test Achats (Test-Aankoop) assists its members with consumer disputes. Even if you are not a member, their website offers template demand letters that you can send to the dishonest locksmith.
• Take it to the Justice of the Peace: for smaller disputes, the Justice of the Peace court is the competent jurisdiction. The procedure is quick, affordable, and does not necessarily require a lawyer.

If, following a scam, your lock was poorly installed or damaged, it is important to have it inspected by a trustworthy locksmith. A badly fitted lock compromises the security of your home. We work with locks from recognised brands (Fichet, Mul-T-Lock, Picard) and can check the condition of your installation after a questionable intervention.

To learn more about the right steps to take when you find yourself locked out, read our guide on what to do when you are locked out. You will find the right reflexes to adopt before calling a locksmith, as well as the checks you should carry out to avoid falling for a dishonest operator.

Three habits will protect you from most scams: verify the VAT number, request a written quote, and insist on a proper invoice. It takes two minutes and can save you hundreds of euros. If you are unsure about a locksmith or just want a straight answer about what something should cost, get in touch with us — we will give you an honest estimate, even if it means telling you the job is not worth the call-out.